Game Thread GAME# 59: BLAZERS @ BULLS - FEBRUARY 27, 2016 - SATURDAY, 5:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

[Darkwebs]

2015-16 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
30 - 28
(11-16 Road)
CHICAGO BULLS
30 - 27
(19-10 Home)





_____________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS E'TWAUN MOORE

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS MIKE DUNLEAVY

SF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS TONY SNELL

PF

NOAH VONLEH VS TAJ GIBSON

C

MASON PLUMLEE VS PAU GASOL


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WHEN: 5:00 PM, SATURDAY, 2/27/2016

WHERE: UNITED CENTER, CHICAGO, IL

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

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--------------BENCH--------------
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

ROBERTS , HENDERSON , CRABBE , CONNAUGHTON

HARKLESS , LEONARD, DAVIS , KAMAN

CHICAGO BULLS

BROOKS , HOLIDAY , McDERMOTT

PORTIS , BAIRSTOW , FELICIO


INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
NONE
BULLS
Derrick Rose (right hamstring tendinitis): OUT
Jimmy Butler (left knee strain): OUT
Nikola Mirotić (appendicitis): OUT
Joakim Noah (left shoulder): OUT




HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- FRED HOIBERG



BULLS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES
BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES ​

• Saturday marks the second and final regular season matchup between the Trail Blazers and Bulls in 2015-16.

• Chicago defeated Portland, 93-88, at the Moda Center on Nov. 24. That snapped Portland’s string of seven consecutive home victories over the Bulls.

• The Trail Blazers are 12-4 against the Bulls since the start of the 2007-08 season. Chicago has won two consecutive games over Portland after dropping seven straight contests against the Trail Blazers from 2/7/11 to 11/21/14.

• A win for Chicago would mark the first time that the Bulls have beaten the Trail Blazers three consecutive times since doing so from 3/14/06 to 3/26/07.

• Portland is 3-1 in its past four road games against Chicago.

• Mason Plumlee hauled in a career-high 17 rebounds against the Bulls on Nov. 24. He also added 11 points for his first double-double in eight career games against Chicago.

• Damian Lillard logged a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds (8 assists) against Chicago on Nov. 24, and has averaged 25.0 points 7.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists over his past three games against the Bulls.

• Despite shooting 0-of-6 from beyond the arc earlier this season against Chicago, Damian Lillard is still shooting 52.4% (22-42 3-PT) from the three-point line in seven career games against the Bulls.

• Damian Lillard made seven three-point field goals (of 10) in his last game against Chicago, and has shot 61.1% from beyond the arc in six career games against the Bulls.

• Ed Davis, who had 12 points (5-8 FG) and 13 rebounds against Chicago on Nov. 24, has two double-doubles in his past three games against the Bulls. Davis has averaged 10.8 points and 9.2 rebounds in his past five games against Chicago.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Bulls lead, 60-57
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 35-24
AT THE BULLS: Bulls lead, 36-22

 

[Darkwebs]

This will be Wheeler's 1600th call of a Blazer game!

 

[Darkwebs]

Chicago has been quite injured and so they are beatabull. Let's hope the Blazers don't play matador defense.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Their rookie Portis is who I wanted before the draft

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Wow this Bulls team is...depleted, to put it nicely. We need to steal this one against that roster

 

[kjironman1]

The question up top is just a bit too simplistic. This isn't just the start of a 6 game road trip. This is the start of "Hell Month" for the Blazers. I look into this next 15 games and it looks to be make or break time for this team. 12 of the next 15 are on the road and all three home games are on a one game home turn around. This is what Greg Popovich calls essentially another road game because you travel to get there. This is also quite often the time when he pulls his patented "Sit the Starters" game. Going to be interesting to see if we don't get a game where Stotts needs to give the guys a rest? My choice for something like that would be the Golden State game in their building which is the first of a B2B and is a single road game between two home games against the Wiz and Magic. Perfect game to activate Alexander and Montero and leave Lillard and Cj at home due to "Nagging Injuries". Then start Kaman, PC, Roberts, Leonard and Harkless. Let the rest of the Starters play limited minutes or even leave them sit. This move would essentially give the starters 3 days off in the middle of 2 home games and catapult them into the OKC, SA, NO, and Dallas trip. Yes they will probably lose that game at Golden State if they do that. There is also no longer the need to play a player because of an "Ironman" streak. Never liked the idea of having to push a guy or even a team because some player needs to keep a streak alive.

It has been pointed out to me that not only will the next month be tough but as soon as the Blazers get through it they will then be granted 7 of the remaining 9 games at home. It all comes down to how well they play over the next month because i can only hope they are still in playoff position on the 26th of March when they take on the 76ers at home. This team plays very well at home and will be a tough nut to crack if they are.

As far as tonight's game goes? No question the Blazers can get this game. Bulls are ripe for the pickin. They are a good team however and you might still see Rose play. Gasol still is a tough match up for any team and Taj brings energy. Dunleavy has a tendency to shoot very well against the Blazers but in that aspect the Blazers defense has improved immensely covering perimeter shooters and personally i think people who knock Dame on defense are just not watching him this year. Lillard has played stellar defense against some of the greatest offensive players to ever play the game this year. Harden got his last game but it wasn't against Dame. when Dame was on him i watched him pick him a number of times. Of course Harden got the call for a reach but that seems to be the case quite often when they see that Beard start to flail....Pisses me off.....Point is the Blazers defense is much much better and should be able to hold these guys. My bet is if Rose does not play you will see more Brooks than Moore in the end. Brooks is the type that plays well against the Blazers.

It would be nice to see the Blazers get out early again and then hold a lead. but as the road usually goes there are very few easy wins on the road. Lets hope they come out hungry and active. Pick tonight is CJ. Dunleavy has his hands full with that match up.

Go Blazers!
Kjironman is a fan!!!

 

[B-Roy]

I'll be at the game. Every single time I've gone to the Bulls home games I'm literally the only Blazer fan there. Maybe it's because Blazer fans blend in as both teams have the same team colors.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[Chris Craig]

Wow this Bulls team is...depleted, to put it nicely. We need to steal this one against that roster

What a mean thing to say!

 

[Chris Craig]

Blazers should be able to bounce back tonight...pun intended

 

[riverman]

Must win game tonight! Should be able to get this one! Go Blazers!

 

[Strenuus]

Must win game tonight! Should be able to get this one! Go Blazers!

Dame getting 30 points in 6 of 7 games isn't bad.

 

[42N8Bounce]

Potential good news for Blazer fans.

 

[riverman]

Potential good news for Blazer fans.

Isn't Rose questionable every night though?

 

[Tunchi]

Derrick Rose out tonight

 

[THE HCP]

 

[Draco]

 

[SlyPokerDog]

@Denny Crane

 

[Jesus Christ Son of God]

*Waves*

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[Denny Crane]

@Denny Crane

Go Blazers. No ad?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Go Blazers. No ad?

No ad, Blazers retweeted.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Neck injury?!

 

[Jade Falcon]

I predicted a loss tonight in the prediction thread. However, now that I've seen how depleted the Bull's roster is, I'm gonna change that and say that we take this game. We NEED this win! A first win is always good for motivation going on a road trip.

 

[Jade Falcon]

Neck injury?!

Who?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Who?

Lillard

 

[Jade Falcon]

Lillard

The hell?! Is he out tonight?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Lillard

I want details from a reputable source, not Quick.

 

[BigGameDamian]

View attachment 8093

Show-off.

 

[Denny Crane]

No ad, Blazers retweeted.

#MakeTweetingGreatAgain